Exclusive Premiere: Us The Duo's New, Chills-Down-Your-Spine Music Video for "Safe"
Meet the reverse lullaby.
Michael and Carissa Alvarado, AKA Us The Duo, were catapulted to fame in 2014 thanks to those #6SecondCovers you could not stop watching on loop. One of the first Vine sensations to be signed to a major label, the husband-and-wife due rode the wave of viral fame, from Good Morning America to Oprah's stage. But in the spirit of being true to their artistry, they decided to leave the mainstream pop life behind and release their latest album, Just Love (out July 22), independently.
"We were both starving creatively and needed a way to express ourselves musically after a long two years of hustling in the music industry," they told us in a joint interview. And trusting their intuition manifested into what can only be described as any musician's dream.
"On a last minute whim, we rented a studio across the country for three weeks, hopped a flight, and locked ourselves in a room with instruments and three other musicians," they explained. "We all sat in a circle, pressed record, and Just Love came out. It was an unforgettable three weeks that we'll never be able to create again, but we're thankful to have it on record and even more excited to share it with the world."
One of our favorite tracks off the home-spun record is their self-proclaimed reverse lullaby "Safe." Originally written as an upbeat dance track, it took on a whole new life in the studio.
"Michael randomly started playing it with a few obscure, haunting chords and we began to sing it in an emotional way we never had before," they said. "We changed a few lines and suddenly the song turned into a reverse lullaby. Most lullabies are written from the parent's perspective, but we wrote this from the point-of-view of the person being cared for. Today's world is getting scarier by the minute, and we all need someone to rely on. That's what this song is about—reminding how much we appreciate the people who care for us."
Here, the exclusive debut of Us The Duo's music video for "Safe."
P.S. Be *sure* to catch the pair live on their worldwide #JustLoveTour going on now through the fall.
Stay In The Know
Get exclusive access to fashion and beauty trends, hot-off-the-press celebrity news, and more.
Follow Marie Claire on Facebook for the latest celeb news, beauty tips, fascinating reads, livestream video, and more.
Lauren Valenti is Vogue’s former senior beauty editor. Her work has also appeared on ELLE.com, MarieClaire.com, and in In Style. She graduated with a liberal arts degree from Eugene Lang College, The New School for Liberal Arts, with a concentration on Culture and Media Studies and a minor in Journalism.
-
Prince Andrew's Business Advisor Accused of Being a "Spy" and Banned From the U.K.
"We found a way to get the relevant people unnoticed in and out of the house in Windsor."
By Amy Mackelden Published
-
Kate Middleton Allegedly Rejected Idea to Seat Prince Andrew "Behind a Pillar" at Her Christmas Carol Concert
"Although very much a family affair... there was no space for Uncle Andy."
By Amy Mackelden Published
-
32 Celebrities Who Got Their Start on Reality TV
Believe it or not.
By Iris Goldsztajn Published
-
ROSÉ Is Forging a New Path for K-Pop Idols Going Solo
With her debut album 'rosie,' the BLACKPINK artist has released the most vulnerable album from a K-pop star yet.
By Quinci LeGardye Published
-
TWICE Shares What Music Shaped Them—And What's on Their Playlist Now
With their new mini-album 'STRATEGY' out, the K-pop girl group opens up about their musical preferences for the 'Marie Claire' series "Listen Up."
By Quinci LeGardye Published
-
Tate McRae Shares What Music Shaped Her—And What's on Her Playlist Now
With her new album 'So Close to What' out soon, the pop star opens up about her musical preferences for the 'Marie Claire' series "Listen Up."
By Sadie Bell Published
-
Beyoncé Receives Her First Grammy Nominations in the Country Categories for 'Cowboy Carter'—As She Should Have
Queen Bey is also the most-nominated of an artist this year.
By Sadie Bell Published
-
2024 Victoria's Secret Fashion Show: Tyla Performs "PUSH 2 START" and "Water"
The South African hitmaker performed her new track "PUSH 2 START" and her breakout hit "Water."
By Sadie Bell Last updated
-
2024 Victoria's Secret Fashion Show: Cher Performs "Strong Enough" and "Believe"
The pop icon headlined the highly anticipated return of the live runway event.
By Sadie Bell Published
-
2024 Victoria's Secret Fashion Show: Lisa Performs "Rockstar"
The BLACKPINK singer kicked off the comeback runaway event with a performance of one of her solo singles.
By Sadie Bell Published
-
Becky G Shares What Music Shaped Her—And What's on Her Playlist Now
With her new album out soon, the Latin star opens up about her musical preferences.
By Sadie Bell Published